Greg Gordon selected for R-III vacancy

After failing to garner enough votes a year ago, Greg Gordon was called to the Kirksville R-III School Board after the final decision was made by random drawing of pill capsules containing the two finalists’ names.

Gordon will be sworn in at the Kirksville School Board’s June 12 meeting and will be taking over the next 10 months as he finishes the remaining term of former member Matt Copeland, who resigned to take a teaching position at the middle school.

Gordon said he entered his name for contention when Copeland resigned as a way of fulfilling a duty to the district.

“The circumstances came up and I felt it was my responsibility to the district and for the good of the community,” he said.

Gordon won out over Nan Davis, a mother of students within the district, after the slate of eight initial candidates was narrowed at the Board’s meeting two weeks ago after a final vote Wednesday failed to gain quorum majority and the decision went to the random drawing.

Gordon had previously run for office a year ago, losing in the April 2012 election to Board members Neal Chamberlain and Gay Nichting.

Board President Jeff Brawner heralded both finalists as qualified and appropriate for the position, telling Davis he would be “greatly disappointed” if she did not run for election in April.

Gordon, who had previously led the Kirksville Booster Club as president until just recently, said he would continue to be involved with the club but that Board service was a natural fit for his involvement with the schools.

“I can help give our children in this district every opportunity that’s available and try to figure out other things we can offer these kids,” he said.

Davis, during her introduction, said her decision to apply for the vacancy was fueled by her own children’s involvement in the district, including both the A+ and Special Education programs.

“Most importantly, we need to ask, ‘Is this decision we’re making all about the kids,’” Davis said.

The final vote failed to select a winner despite having a majority of the votes cast in favor of Gordon, but Board policy dictated such a decision needed to be made by the majority of those present for a quorum, leading to the random draw-off.

Initially, the final vote come down to Chamberlain and Nichting in favor of Davis while members Brawner, Larry Logston and Judy Duden voted in favor of Gordon. Board member Jack Ward abstained, necessitating the draw-off decision.

“I abstained because I believe they’re both great choices,” Ward said.

At the meeting two weeks ago, Ward had also cast a decisive vote that split the Board 3-3 between Davis and Gordon, leading to Wednesday’s face-off.

Prior to the vote, both candidates fielded questions from the Board and presented a short speech on why they applied for the position.

The final decision came down to a random drawing by Assistant Superintendent Jane Schaper between two pill capsules containing the candidates’ names.

Nichting said she believed the Board had given the important matter due consideration rather than utilize something like a coin flip without interviewing the candidates.

Gordon, a father of two former and two current students in the district, said he believed the Board’s role in a district is to “do what’s in the best interest of the students.”

“You have to look outside and look to tomorrow,” he said during his introduction.